Coronavirus cleaning

3/16/2020 (Permalink)

As the spread of the Coronavirus continues, SERVPRO of Lombard/Addison is prepared to assist with keeping your home or facility clean.  When you contact SERVPRO of Lombard/Addison regarding Coronavirus cleanup, deep cleaning, or proactive cleaning, here is what you can expect:

• SERVPRO professionals are trained in adhering to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards.
• SERVPRO is performing all cleanup and bioremediation in accordance with the guidelines provided by the CDC and local authorities.
• SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning agent, SERVPROXIDE, is an EPA-certified, hospital-grade disinfectant that has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) on hard, non-porous surfaces.
• There is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the Coronavirus.
• Proactive cleaning will not prevent or protect the building from future contamination if an infected person was to enter and occupy the building.

Please be aware that SERVPRO is not making any claims that we can prevent or "cure" the Coronavirus. If any company is making that claim, they are spreading incorrect information.  There is no magical cure, but we can take steps to help stop the spread of the virus.  

SERVPRO of Lombard/Addison professionals are able and will perform the necessary bioremediation services to clean, disinfect and sanitize your property. Give us a call - 630-543-1700.

Being Green and Being Green

7/26/2018 (Permalink)

Being Green and Cleaning Green with Environment Friendly Products!!

"There goes the guys in the green trucks!"

Running around in green vehicles and using green equipment, we know what it's like to be green.  However, we also know the being environmentally green is as important as the brand we promote.  It is extremely important that we take care of the health and well being of our customers as we clean, deodorize, and disinfect homes and businesses.  More than ever, our customers are concerned about what products we use and how we use them.  We are proud of our lineup of cleaning products and are even prouder that they have the testing and backing of SERVPRO chemists located at our corporate office in Gallatin, TN. 

We would like to introduce our new line of Green Cleaning Products. SERVPRO® Industries, Inc. is a member of the EPA’s Design for

Environment (EPA/DFE) initiative. As a member company, SERVPRO® can access the listing known formally as CleanGredients.

The EPA/DFE has established a set of criteria for formulating environmentally friendly cleaning products. With the assistance of larger chemical companies the EPA/DFE has put together a listing of safe cleaning components that can be used in Green cleaning formulations. From the listing a formulation can be derived that incorporates “green” chemistry. The initiative is designed to allow chemical formulators a resource to formulate environmentally friendly cleaning products using environmentally friendly raw materials. We have formulated three Green Cleaning Products that will allow you to complete approximately all your cleaning tasks. The products are as follows:

Carpet & Upholstery Green Clean #251 is a product designed for cleaning both carpet and upholstery. It is truly a “one product does all” in that it can be used as a spotter, pre-spray, in-line cleaner for both truck mount and portable equipment, and in low-moisture bonnet cleaning. The product is pH neutral, biodegradable, contains no phosphates, solvents, dyes or fragrances.

All Surface Green Clean #250 is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional surface cleaners. It is pH neutral, contains no dyes or fragrances. All components are safe, non-toxic, phosphate free, Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) compliant and rapidly bio-degradable. The product is designed as a one product cleans all for surfaces that can be wiped or mopped. It can safely be used on walls, ceilings, countertops, floors, etc. The exclusive formulation contains both ionic and non-ionic surfactants that are naturally derived and provide excellent multi-functional cleaning.

Window Green Clean #249 is an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional glass cleaners. It is pH neutral, contains no dyes or fragrances. All components are safe, non-toxic, phosphate free, VOC-compliant and rapidly biodegradable. The product comes ready to use and is formulated with soft water to eliminate spotting and streaking.

Two areas the EPA/DFE does not address that are common in our restoration tasks are disinfectants and deodorizers. Disinfectants are “kill” agents and not considered green per the EPA/DFE. The EPA does though classify disinfectants by the overall toxicity. The lowest toxicity disinfectants get a rating of category 3. SERVPRO® provides Sporicidin® as a low toxicity disinfectant and it carries the EPA’s lowest toxicity rating of category 3. Therefore in the course of Green Cleaning it is recommended Sporicidin® be used for your disinfecting requirements. The final area is Deodorization and the problem is the fragrances used in these products can cause reactions with certain individuals. The EPA/DFE does not currently have “Green” fragrances listed. SERVPRO® provides air scrubbers with activated charcoal to serve as a “Green” method of deodorization. This method will scrub the odor particles from the air and trap them in the activated charcoal filter.

If you have questions about Green Cleaning or the EPA’s Design for the Environment program, the following link from the EPA’s website may be helpful:

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/

Decluttering

1/2/2018 (Permalink)

Decluttering makes us feel more in control of our lives, so now is a perfect time.  Especially, with starting a new year.  Start you New Year off right with a clean and clutter free home.  

Unwanted Toiletries

Start with unopened  travel shampoos and conditioners, do you really need that many? probably not, chances are you will not use half of them.  Get rid of all lotions that have been sitting for a long time and are dusty, or if you just do not like the scent of them or how they worked.  Get rid of the face wash or shampoo that you tried and ended up totally hating and now just sits and takes up space because you will never actually use it again.  If you have unopened toiletries and feel bad about just throwing them away, donate them to your local shelter. 

Unwanted Books

Having books just sitting around is a great way to collect dust.  Start by getting rid of books that you have already read, chances are you are not going to reread it.  Get rid of cook books that have been sitting around and you only use a few recipes out of it.  photocopy or write down the recipe and get rid of the rest of the cookbook.  Books can always be donated to a library or even a local used book store. 

Unwanted Clothes

Getting rid of clothes can be challenging, but it needs to be done.  Get rid of clothes that you have not worn in over a year, that have holes or stains, and that you do not fit into anymore.  Also be sure to get rid of any mismatched socks and any jewelry that you do not wear anymore. 

How to Clean Your Carpets to Help With Allergies and Asthma

8/22/2017 (Permalink)

Most people will vacuum their carpets at least once a week. But if you are asthmatic, you may consider doing it two to three times a week. Some allergy symptoms are exacerbated during particular seasons, for instance, when pollen count is high. If this is the case with you, then, it is advisable that you adjust the frequency of vacuuming accordingly.
A popular belief is that the use of vacuum cleaning machines with HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters helps get rid of more effectively common house allergens.
However, a note worth mentioning is that dust mites and pet hair are larger than .3 microns, which is the minimal size of particles that a HEPA vacuum cleaner is designed to retain. Thus, specialists indicate that sufferers should not exclusively invest in a more expensive vacuum cleaning machine but focus on the regular and meticulous cleaning maintenance of their carpeted floorings.

People who have a severe allergic reaction to certain antigens take additional precautions by choosing the right type of carpet that is designed to alleviate their condition. The manufacturing industry has evolved greatly in recent years in that respect. There are different hypoallergenic or antimicrobial carpeting and padding on the market, which have a very low level of VOC and are easy to maintain and clean.

And let’s not forget that allergens can thrive on a variety of other surfaces throughout your home, hence, the importance of cleaning your upholstered furniture and mattress on a regular basis. Washing frequently your bedding, the curtains, any mats, cushion covers and throwovers will also reduce your allergy symptoms and will improve tremendously the quality of air you and your family breathe.

How to Remove Pet Hair From your Home

7/12/2017 (Permalink)

For any animal lover, pet hair and pet hair removal are just a fact of life.  It's one of those annoyances that comes with owning any type of pet.  when the dust bunnies under the couch start to look furry enough to make a call to the exterminator, we have some suggestions that will make it easier to control pet hair.

Furniture

• From wooden furniture the easiest way to remove pet hair is to use a soft cloth and anti-static dusting spray and just wipe the furniture down.  
• From fabric furniture use rubber gloves and run your hand over the surface and all the hair will attract to the glove.  When the glove is full of hair, just rinse off the glove.  

  Floors

• With carpet floors while vacuuming up the pet hair go nice and slow and even go over some areas twice!  Also, alternate directions to pick up any stubborn hairs. 
• With hardwood, laminate, or nay other bare flooring use a dry mop to pick up the hair; vacuums tend to blow the hair around rather than pick it up.

  Clothes

• Always keep a lint roller handy, especially if you like to wear a lot of dark colors.

• when washing clothes with pet hair on them try putting your clothes in the dryer with a dryer sheet for ten minutes.  The movement and softener loosens hair, which winds up in the lint trap.  Also, adding liquid water softener to the washer helps with removing pet hair.  

   

A Clean Mattress is a Happy Mattress

7/12/2017 (Permalink)

We use our mattress every night. How often do we clean it though? Even with linens and mattress pads, our mattresses are on the receiving end of dead skin cells, sweat, stains, dust mites, and some other lovely things. Here is one way to clean your mattress.

1. Vacuum your mattress to pick up all of the crumbs, pet hair, dirt, and dust that has piled up over time
2. Spot clean your mattress for any stains that might have occurred. Most stains are protein based, but they probably are notnew so you might really have to scrub at them to get them out.
3. Deodorize your mattress by sprinkling a light layer of baking soda over the entire mattress. Let the baking soda sit for about an hour or two. and then vacuum off the baking soda.
4. Air out your mattress. The best way would be taking it outside for some fresh air and UV sunlight. It's a great way to get rid of any bacteria naturally. If you can't get your mattress outside for whatever reason, just letting it sit on the house for a couple hours will be fine.
5. Cover and protect your mattress with a mattress cover and linens. They are easy defensive mechanisms against future dirt and stains and they are really easy to clean.